Here is what you need to know in order to get up to speed with today’s happenings.
1. Ruling on Waititu graft case
The Milimani Anti-corruption Court is today expected to deliver a ruling in a Ksh25.6 million graft case against former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and 12 others.
The accused persons including Waititu’s wife Susan Wangari are charged with conflict of interest, abuse of office and dealing with suspect property.
The suspects are accused of receiving over Ksh25 million in kickbacks from Testimony Enterprises Limited, one of the beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the Kiambu County Government during Waititu’s reign.
The tender worth Ksh588 million was issued on February 12, 2018. The contract was for the upgrading of various gravel roads in Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja, and Ruiru sub-counties during the 2017-2018 financial year.
In August, Waitutu asked the court to acquit him of all the charges, saying the case was politically instigated.
“Unfortunately, this case is one that was informed by the prevailing political temperatures within the country. I fell out of favour with the ruling political class and as a direct consequence I was cast out to wither and die,” Waititu told the court further blaming his woes on the 2022 succession politics.
2. TIFA survey
Trends and Insights Africa (TIFA) is set to release results of a recent poll covering several political issues including:
- Support for the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party talks
- Opinion on whether talks will be successful
- Support for the office of official opposition & Prime Cabinet Secretary
- Political party support
- The legitimate Secretary General of Jubilee Party
- If Azimio MPs working with Kenya Kwanza should resign from party
3. President William Ruto’s US tour
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York continues today.
President William Ruto is among leaders attending the high-level meeting scheduled to close tomorrow, September 22.
The agenda of the global gathering is to assess progress towards the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and address critical global challenges such as the climate crisis and debt concerns in the Global South.
During the session, the Head of State called on the international community to mobilize and direct resources towards addressing impediments to Sustainable Development Goals.
President Ruto argued that many countries, especially in Africa, have been unable to implement SDG due to hindrances such as debt, inflation, climate shocks and conflicts.
“By enhancing Africa’s access to financing from global development capital, we will unlock the continent’s vast potential; its natural resources, arable land and vibrant human capital,” President Ruto stated on Tuesday when he co-chaired the United Nations General Assembly Sustainable Development Goals dialogue on Applying Science and Technology Innovation and data for transformative action alongside Slovenia President Nataša Pirc Musar.
The President has also had a series of meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the event including World Bank President Ajay Banga, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Amazon Vice President Susan Pointer, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva and Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine), Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (Portugal) and Qasym-Jomart Toqayev (Kazakhstan) among others.
More is likely to come out of Ruto’s interactions with global leaders in the US today.
